Suppose we discover a comet whose orbit was very highly eccentric, retrograde, had a very large tilt with respect to the ecliptic plane, and a period of 2,000 years. Where is the most likely place of origin for this comet?
A) the Kuiper Belt
B) the Oort Cloud
C) the asteroid belt
D) the Jovian family
E) outside the Solar System

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The highly eccentric, retrograde, and tilted orbit with a period of 2,000 years suggests that this comet originated from the Oort Cloud, a spherical shell of icy bodies located far beyond the Kuiper Belt. The Oort Cloud is believed to be the birthplace of long-period comets, which have highly elliptical orbits that bring them close to the Sun only once every several thousand years. In contrast, comets from the Kuiper Belt tend to have more circular orbits and shorter periods, while those from the asteroid belt have nearly circular orbits and even shorter periods. The Jovian family of comets also has short periods, but they are not likely to have highly inclined or retrograde orbits. Comets from outside the Solar System are also possible, but they would be very rare and difficult to detect.

Suppose We Discover a Comet Whose Orbit Was Very Highly